Missouri State University Libraries

Library Services Record Group

Collection Number: RG3.6
Volume: 5 linear feet
Dates: 1919-2001 (Bulk 1980s-1990s)

Provenance

The records of the University Library Services were combined from existing files, presumably from former Head Librarian Bob Harvey, containing information on the library and a large number of office files. collection also contains miscellaneous materials, oversized drawings and photographs. It was processed in 2001 by Carolyn Schweighauser and Ann-Elizabeth Yorty.

Copyright

This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code).

Access

The collection is unrestricted. Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to material from the collection must be obtained from the Missouri State University Archives. Citations should be as follows: Identification of item, box and folder number, Library Services Record Group (RG University Archives, Missouri State University.

Historical Sketch

The library began with 600 volumes in 1905 as a part of the Missouri State Normal School. W.A. Daggett, a teacher of ancient history and school librarian, served as the first librarian. The library moved into the north wing of the new academic building (Carrington Hall) in 1909 and by 1912 its collection had grown to 12,000 volumes. An article in the Southwest Standard praised the library’s service but lamented that it still needed more books. Grace Palmer was hired as assistant librarian in 1910 and was named head librarian in 1918, when W.A. Daggett left to serve as YMCA secretary for the American Expeditionary Force overseas. Miss Palmer served as head librarian until the late 1950s. During her tenure she and the library would face the continual need for more space and more books.

Miss Palmer and staff members began a library club (later Palmer Library Club) in 1924. Club meetings included book discussions, guest lectures and social teas, as well as other book and library-related programs.

By 1924 the library work force consisted of two librarians, one staff and 22 student assistants. In 1940 the library contained 50,000 volumes and employed five librarians, 20 student assistants and 20 National Youth students. The next year plans were drawn for a $128,000 art-deco style library to be built through the Works Administration (W.P.A.). To the disappointment of the campus community, World War II halted the project before received W.P.A. approval. An architect’s rendering of the proposed building can be found in the 1942 Ozarko, p.15. In 1943 the east half of the library was used for training by 500 Army Air Corps cadets.

The campus community was again disappointed in 1947 when Governor Donnelly vetoed a bill that would have provided Missouri State University with a new library building and more room for students and the growing library collection already over 60,000 volumes. A lengthy article in The Southwest Standard described lack of seating and shelf space in the library. Additionally, a number of faculty members were seeking graduate degrees, further increasing the need for more library support.

Finally, after the approval of the SMSC (now Missouri State University) Board of Regents, construction began in 1954 on a $600,000 library building, designed to hold 150,000 volumes, provide seating for 2,400, and include a foreign language lab and faculty reading room. The new Memorial Library had an air-conditioned first floor and was dedicated November of 1955. The two upper levels of the building would be “finished off” in the 1960s.

Robert B. Harvey, from Northwestern University, came to Missouri State University in 1959 as the new head librarian. Mr. Harvey would work to build the library’s collection and would also oversee a number of building projects during his career at Missouri State. In 1960 staff included six professional librarians and approximately 30 student assistants. The college began offering a minor in Library Science for the Bachelor of Science in Education degree also that year. Harvey was given the additional title of Department Head when the Department of Library Science was created in 1963. That same year the library became a United States Government Document Depository.

In 1965 the first catalog of the William J. Jones Collection was published. The collection of works by or about French poet Arthur Rimbaud, was founded by Missouri State alumnus Frederic C. St. Aubyn in honor of Jones, his friend and fellow alumnus, who was killed in WWII.

By 1975 the library collection had grown to 270,000 volumes and 207,000 microform units. By this time, library personnel included 15 librarians and 17 staff and the status and name of the college had changed to university. Missouri State University Library linked up with OCLC, one of the first online national bibliographic databases, in 1976. In 1978 $6.8 million was allocated for construction, equipment and furnishings for a new library building.

The new library was dedicated in September of 1980 and provided space for new units such as the Educational Media Department and the Map Library as well as study areas for students and classrooms for the Library Science Department. In 1982 the Board of Regents named the library in honor of retiring Missouri State President Duane G. Meyer.

Head Librarian Robert B. Harvey retired in 1984. In August of that year, John Meador, formerly the Head of Public Services at the University of Utah, came to Missouri State as the Dean of Library Services. While at Missouri State, Dean Meador would continue to build the collections as well as implement automation of the library.

In 1986 the Music Library in Ellis Hall and Greenwood Laboratory School’s Library became the first and second branches of the Missouri State University Library. Dean Meador oversaw the beginning stages of library automation in 1988 when various library departments were computerized for the first time and began utilizing CD-ROMs for reference sources. Additionally, use of the traditional card catalog began to decline in 1989 when students started accessing information on the library’s book collection on an online catalog.

Missouri State University Libraries celebrated the acquisition of its 500,000th volume, a facsimile of the Gutenberg Bible, in 1990.

John Meador left Missouri State in 1993 to become Dean of Libraries at the University of Mississippi. Associate Dean Neosha Mackey served as Acting Dean and worked to strengthen the Friends of Library organization. Karen Horny, from Northwestern University, was hired as the new Dean in 1995. That year Dean Horny oversaw the planning for a Meyer Library expansion and renovation project. By this time, the library contained 586,900 volumes and 844,000 microform units.

The Paul Evans Library on the Mountain Grove Campus became the third branch of Missouri State University Libraries in 1996, and the Ozark Labor Union Archives was transferred from the Missouri State Economics Department to the Missour State University Libraries’ new department of Special Collections and Archives.

As of 2001, the collections of Missouri State University’s four libraries number over 2.9 million items volumes, subscriptions to periodicals and newspapers, extensive back files of journals and newspapers, audiovisual materials, and government documents and maps. Additionally, over 45 electronic databases are available for use. In 2000 Meyer Library was named as an official United Nations Depository.

Scope and Content

This collection contains the records of the Library Services division of Missouri State University. The collection is organized into six series: I. Memoranda (1950s-1998); II. General Files (1928-2000); III. Minutes (1984-1998); Financial Records (1959-1987); V. Reports (1919-1989); and VI. Buildings (1940s-1998).

Series I: Memoranda. 1950s-1998.
Includes general memoranda folder circa prior to 1959 as well as incoming, internal and outgoing folders holding memos from the 1980s and 1990s. Also includes Head Librarian Bob Harvey’s (1959-1984) “Memo from the Librarian,” published monthly with occasional gaps, which typically reports on general library information, some budget information, includes detailed bulletins on new acquisitions. Also included in the series is memoranda sent by Dean John Meador (1984-1993), which often focuses on reorganization, budget allocation and automation of the library as well as general information. Folders are in alphabetical order, chronologically arranged within.

Series II: General Files. 1928-2000.
Subject files including brochures, budget proposals, history, guidelines and information on different departments, clippings, collection development, goals and plans, library organizations and presentations, technology, newsletters and other general information regarding the library. Arranged alphabetically by subject, chronologically within each folder.

Series III: Minutes. 1984-1998.
Minutes of Academic Council, Department Heads, miscellaneous meetings, and news supplements for Board of Regents Meetings. Also contains agendas and notes on miscellaneous other meetings. Arranged alphabetically by meeting title, then chronologically.

Series IV: Financial Records. 1959-1987.
Ledger books on financial records including grant monies, acquisition of books by subject, budgets, internal accounts, budget statistics, copy machines. Arranged alphabetically by title, then chronologically.

Series V: Reports. 1919-1989.
MSU library statistics reported to the ACRL, American Library Association, Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Missouri Library Commission, and Missouri State Libraries, as well as other miscellaneous organizations. Also includes library budget requests and reports, faculty evaluation on university policies, MSU Libraries Collection Analysis Project, salary statistics and miscellaneous statistics arranged alphabetically by folder and chronologically within.

Series VI: Buildings. 1940s-1998.
Includes information in regard to building plans and moves. Contains drawings, correspondence, and plans regarding moves to new library buildings, expansions and additions, as well as specifications and bids on building, furniture, and shelving. Includes reports on consultations by George Cogswell and Jerrold Orne on the move to Meyer Library. alphabetically by folder then chronologically within. Oversized drawings in Map Case 1, Drawer 7.

Container List

Series I: Memoranda
Box 1	1	General	1950s, n.d.
	2	Incoming	1984-1997
	3	Internal	1988-1998
	4	Meador, John	1985-1993
	5	Memo from the Librarian ("Very First Memo")	Nov. 5, 1959
	6	Memo from the Librarian	Oct - Dec 1964
	7	Memo from the Librarian	1965
	8	Memo from the Librarian	Feb - Sept 1966
	9	Memo from the Librarian	Oct - Dec 1974
	10	Memo from the Librarian	Feb - Dec 1975
	11	Memo from the Librarian	Feb - Dec 1976
	12	Memo from the Librarian	1977
	13	Memo from the Librarian	1978
	14	Memo from the Librarian	1979
	15	Memo from the Librarian	1980
	16	Memo from the Librarian	1981
	17	Memo from the Librarian	1982
	18	Memo from the Librarian	1983
	19	Memo from the Librarian	Jan - July 1984
	20	Outgoing	July 1997
Series II: General Files
Box 1	21	Advertisements - Audiovisuals	1959 - 1960
	22	Advertisements - Building	1963 - 1964, n.d.
	23	Advertisements - General	1959 - 1961, n.d.
	24	Advertisements - Microprint	1960s, n.d.
	25	Audiovisual Aids (Committee Report)	late 1950s
	26	August Intersession	1957 - 1960
	27	Brochures	1929 - 2000
	28	Brown Bag	1995 -
	29	Budget Planning	1987 - 1999
	30	Campus Volunteer Regulation Information	1986 - 1997
	31	Check It Out [Library Newsletter]	1999 -
	32	Clippings	1961 - 2000, n.d.
	33	Collection Development	1983, 1987
	34	Collection Development Guidelines	1988
	35	College Regulations	1942 - 1956, n.d.
	36	Correspondence - Internal	1996
	37	Correspondence - Outgoing	1998 - 2000
	38	Curriculum Lab (examples of curriculum material)	1932 - 1976, n.d.
	39	Dean's Retreat	1998
	40	Forms	1951 - 1958
	41	Forms	1990s
	42	Friends of the SMSU Libraries	1985 - 1990
	43	Goals and Plans	1995 - 1996
Box 2	1	Goals and Plans	1998
	2	Goals and Plans (Library Summary of Goals)	2000 - 2002
	3	Government Documents - rules	1991
	4	Guest Lists	1955 - 1957
	5	Halloween 1997 (copies of photographs)	1997
	6	History	1909 - 1996
	7	Inventories	1928 - 1959
	8	The June Runk - SMSU Brass Rubbings	1985
	9	Library Hours	1990 - 1991
	10	Library Needs	1961 - 1963
	11	Libraries Organizational Charts	1987 - 1998
	12	"Library Footnotes" [West Plains - Garnett Library Newsletter]	2000 -
	13	Map of Library	November 1998
	14	"Marian the Librarian" skit	n.d.
	15	Media Services	1979 - 1996, n.d.
	16	Miscellaneous	1990s
	17	Palmer Library Club	1964 - 1972
	18	Pathfinders	1999 -
	19	Position Announcements	1999
	20	Purchase of NOTIS (Library Maintenance System)	1985
	21	Staff Concerns	1995
	22	Student Assistants	1974
	23	Student Guide to the Library	1984 - 1985
	24	SMSU Faculty Publications Bibliography	1974
	25	Library of Congress Bicentennial Stamp	2000
	26	SMSU Libraries Student Employee Handbook	1989
	27	SMSU Library Organizational Survey	Late 1990s, n.d.
	28	Technology	1990 - 2000
	29	Time Clock	1990 - 1991, n.d.
	30	University Library Committee	1994
	31	University Planning	1984 - 1986
Series III: Minutes
Box 2	32	Academic Council	Sept 1993 - July 1995
	33	Academic Council	Aug - Dec 1995
	34	Academic Council	March 1996 - July 1997
	35	Academic Council	July - Dec 1997
	36	Academic Council	Jan - March 1998
	37	Academic Council	April - June 1998
	38	Academic Council	July - Oct 1998
	39	Academic Council	Nov - Dec 1998
	40	Department Head Meetings	Oct 1987 - Sept 1988
	41	Department Head Meetings	Nov 1988 - Dec 1989
	42	Department Head Meetings	Jan - July 1990
	43	Department Head Meetings	Aug - Dec 1990
	44	Department Head Meetings	Jan - May 1991
	45	Department Head Meetings	July - Dec 1991
	46	Department Head Meetings	June - Dec 1992
Box 3	1	Department Head Meetings	1993 - 1995
	2	Miscellaneous Minutes, Agendas, and Notes	1994 -
	3	Nile Green & Newsline Supplement on Board of Regents Meetings	1984 - 1987
Series IV: Financial Records
Box 3	4	Blackwell's $95,000 Prepay	1985 - 1987
	5	Blackwell's Approval Plan	1985 - 1986
	6	Blackwell's "Firm" $100,000 Prepay	1986
	7	Books	1980 - 1981
	8	Books - Accounting thru Foreign Language	1986 - 1987
	9	Books - General thru Theatre	1986 - 1987
	10	Cash - Budgets	1960 - 1961
	11	Cash - Budget	1962 - 1963
	12	Cash - Budgets	1963 - 1964, 1967- 1968
	13	Federal Grant	1966 - 1975
	14	Internal Accounts - Library	1974 - 1975
	15	Internal Accounts - Library	1975 - 1976
	16	Internal Accounts - Library	1977 - 1978
	17	Internal Accounts - Library	1978 - 1979
	18	Internal Accounts - Library	July 1979 - June 1980
	19	Internal Accounts - Library	July 1980 - June 1981
	20	Internal Accounts - Library	July 1981 - June 1982
	21	Internal Accounts - Library	1982 - 1983
	22	Internal Accounts - Library	1983 - 1984
Box 4	1	Internal Accounts - Library	1984 - 1985
	2	Internal Accounts - Library	1985 - 1986
	3	Internal Accounts - Library	1986 - 1987
	4	Library Budget	1968 - 1970
	5	Library Budget & Statistics	1970 - 1972
	6	Library Budget & Statistics	1972 - 1974
	7	Library - Copy Machines 55823	1973 - 1975
	8	Statistical Summary	1959 - 1969
	9	Voucher Book	1984 - 1985
	10	Xerox Key Operations	1966 - 1972
Series V: Reports
Box 4	11	ACRL Library Statistics of Institutions of Higher Learning	1950 - 1953
	12	ALA/Dept. Health, Education & Welfare (form 8-072)	1934 - 1957
	13	Budget	1958 - 1963
	14	Budget Requests FY 1963 - 1964	1962 - 1964
	15	Educational Media Subcommittee Report	1987
	16	Higher Education General Information Survey (Dept of Health, Educ. & Welfare	1967 - 1976
	17	Library Materials Allocations (Selected Data)	FY 82 - FY 89
	18	Miscellaneous Agencies (Organizational Statistical Reports)	1933 - 1973
	19	Missouri Library Commission - School/College Library Report	1919 - 1948
	20	Missouri State Library Annual Report (College and University Libraries	1950 - 1973
	21	Missouri State Library - Library Statistics of Institutions of Higher Learning	1954 - 1961
	22	Report on Results of Faculty Evaluation of University Policies, Procedures and Personnel	1985
	23	Salary Statistics	1933 - 1960, n.d.
	24	Statistics (hand figures)	1968 - 1976
	25	SMSU Libraries Collection Analysis Project (Interim Report)	February 1987
	26	SMSU Libraries Collection Analysis Project (Report of the Task Force on Operating Practices)	April 1987
	27	SMSU Libraries Collection Analysis Project (Final Project)	July 1987
	28	Statistics - College Libraries (includes information on SMSU and other institutions)	1935 - 1962
Series VI: Buildings
Box 4	29	Architectural Drawings (Meyer Library)	1979 - 1982
	30	Building Meeting Notes	1997 - 1998
	31	Consultations and Report by George Cogswell on Proposed Library Move	October 1979
	32	Correspondence (Library Architects - Memorial Library)	1960s
	33	Correspondence (Memorial Library)	1955- 1958
Box 5	1	Dedication (Garnett)	1991
	2	Dedication (Meyer)	1980 - 1983
	3	Dedication (Memorial)	1955
	4	Drawings, correspondence	1940s
	5	Equipment Inventory	1943 - 1959
	6	Furniture and Equipment Specifications	January 1955
	7	Furniture - General, Serial and Mail Areas	1978 - 1980
	8	Library Expansion (2nd Floor completion & changes to existing areas)	1958 - 1962
	9	Meyer Library Addition (Cannon Design Presentation)	1998
	10	Move to Meyer Library	1979 - 1980
	11	Plans for New Library Buildings	1935 - 1940s
	12	Plans for New Library Buildings	1950s, n.d.
	13	Program for new building (Meyer)	1977
	14	Remodeling/Moves	1990s
	15	Preliminary Building Program for SMSU Library	1976
	16	Shelving Miscellaneous	1979 - 1980
	17	Space Utilization Survey, information	1958 - 1959
	18	A Statement of Program for Expanded Library Facilities	1964 - 1965
	19	Specifications [A Statement of Program for Expanded Library Facilities]	1964
	20	Specifications [Additions and Alterations to Library Building]	1964 - 1965
	21	Specifications Furniture Bids	1979
	22	Specifications, Volume 1	1978
	23	Specifications, Volume 2	1978
	24	Specifications, Addendum 1	1978
	25	Steel Bookstack Bid Specs.	1979
	26	Suggested State Bid Furniture Equiv.	1980
	27	Oversized (Map Case 1, Drawer 7)	1955 - 1980s